Patent GB-1339886-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for unloading cigarettes or similar rod-like articles
IPC: A24C5/356
Filed: 1969-11-26
Abstract: 1339886 Discharging cigarettes from trays MOLINS MACHINE CO Ltd 24 Nov 1970 [26 Nov 1969] 57743/69 Heading B8C Apparatus for unloading cigarettes, or similar rod-like articles, from trays a comprises a tray carrier 13 which is rotatable about a horizontal axis 2 and is arranged to perform successive cycles in each of which it picks up an upright full tray from a loading position C, rotates about the horizontal axis 2 in one direction to place the full tray in an inverted position d over a discharging zone, then, when the tray is empty, rotates about the axis 2 in the opposite direction to place the empty tray upright in an unloading position e, and then picks up the next full tray from the loading position to repeat the cycle, the loading and unloading positions being one behind the other. As shown, trays 1, each with its top and one side open, and stacked with cigarettes, are carried towards a main frame 21 along an inclined conveyer 10. After the preceding tray at position b has been carried, by hooks 11 on a pair of vertical chain conveyers 12, upwardly to a position c and the hooks 11 have travelled down again to their bottom position so as to strike a cam 36, Fig. 4, and cause a pair of claws 30, to open against the action of springs 32, the leading tray on the conveyer 10 is able to move forward past the claws 30 into the loading position 6 whereupon the claws close again and hold back the next tray in position a<1>, Fig. 2. The carrier 13 is mounted on a shaft 50 rotatable by a jack, not shown, which acts through a rack, not shown, and a pinion 51. As the carrier swings downwardly to the unloading position e carrying an empty tray the fingers 61, 62 on arms 63 of grippers 13A, Fig. 8, which grip the opposite sides of the empty tray 1, are released as a lever 66 strikes a pin 67 and are held open by a locking pin 68. When a full tray is correctly positioned between the gripper arms 63 at position c a bracket 72 on a conveyer chain 12 releases the locking pin 68 so the fingers 61, 62 move towards each other and grip the full tray located between them. Downward movement of the carrier 13 to the position e also causes a plate 4, slidably mounted in slides 52 in the carrier 4 to contact a striker 55 and move the plate, against the action of a spring 60, into a position 4a, Fig. 1, where it closes the top of the full tray, the plate 4 being locked in position as a spring-loaded notched plate 57, Fig. 8, engages a pin 18. As a full tray is rotated in direction 3, Fig. 1, to an inverted position over a discharging position 101, Fig. 5, the plate 57 is urged upwardly by an adjustable pin 58 so that the plate 4, under the action of the spring 60, moves into the position 4b and the cigarettes in the tray fall on to a conveyer 10b and a faster conveyer 107, which transfers them beneath a moving band 111, and into a variable volume reservoir 102, which has a top wall formed by two hinged sets of interlaced fingers 104, 105. A continuously running-band assists the removal of the cigarettes from the reservoir 102. Switches 111, 112 are actuated by the finger 104, when the reservoir is full and empty and stop the bands 106, 107, and 110, and the machine respectively. As the cigarettes are fed downwardly out of a tray at position d a control plate 113 rests on the upper surface of the cigarettes to maintain the surface substantially level, the plate 113 being carried by a pair of arms 114 pivoted about an axle 115 and biased downwardly by a spring 116. A pin 117 on each arm actuates a microswitch 118 which is opened when the plate 113 moves upwardly due to reaction from the cigarettes and is closed when the plate is in the position shown in Fig. 6. A limit switch is operated when the plate 113 reaches the tray empty position to start the changeover of trays. The arms 114 are carried by a support member which cooperates with two screw-jacks 150 to move the plate 113 downwards in accordance with the operation of the switches 118. The support member may be carried by a slide at each side and a single central screw 150. A framework (120), Fig. 10, not shown, carries supports for the support member and a driving motor (120). In a modification, Fig. 9, not shown, the framework (120) is pivotally mounted for movement into and out of the operative position. The trays tilt backwards from position e to position f where they rest upon hooks of a chain conveyer 15 which carries the trays from position f to position h, empty trays being carried away from the position h by a band conveyer 16.